Definitive Contract W913E524C0006

Northern Social-Environmental Research Inc., a minority-owned small disadvantaged business and woman-owned small business, was awarded a $500K firm fixed-price contract by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) on February 12, 2024, to advance methods for engaging and applying indigenous knowledge in Arctic coastal systems research. The four-year effort, which runs through February 11, 2028, will be performed in Fairbanks, Alaska, and derives from the ERDC's Broad Agency Announcement 22-0017 for Northern Social-Environmental Research. This solicitation sought research and development proposals across multiple technical domains, with rolling submissions accepted across ERDC's various laboratory divisions. The contract contains no set-aside designation, indicating that Northern Social-Environmental Research competed successfully in an open bidding process.

The awarded project focuses on community-based research methodologies that integrate indigenous knowledge systems with scientific approaches to enhance understanding of Arctic coastal environments. Northern Social-Environmental Research brings demonstrated expertise in this domain, evidenced by prior ERDC contracts and subgrant work with the University of Colorado on Yukon watershed projects, which included community engagement, participatory mapping, elder council coordination, and peer-reviewed publications. The company's specialization in social and environmental research within Arctic and subarctic regions, combined with its established relationships with indigenous communities and local advisory groups across Alaska, positions it well to deliver the collaborative research approaches required under this initiative.